Gua Gunung Runtuh, a cave within the limestone massif of Bukit Kepala Gajah, is made famous by the discovery of the oldest intact human skeleton from prehistoric times that was found there. Gua Gunung Runtuh is a surprisingly small cave - the above photograph, taken in wide angle on 1 April 2006 - shows practically the entire cave.
Gunung Gua Runtuh is located 105 m above sea level. Members of AsiaExplorers joined a team of archeological students from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) led by archeologist Dr Stephen Chia in this cave. It took us about 45 minutes to walk from Kampung Ulu Jepai, a Malay kampung near Gelok, in Lenggong, to the cave. The mouth is located on a steep side of the hill protected by sharp jutting boulders and slippery slope.
Archeological briefing by Dr Stephen Chia (second from left, in white) in Gua Gunung Runtuh, Lenggong.
The way to Gua Gunung Runtuh.
To properly document Gua Gunung Runtuh required me to bring my camera gear and heavy tripod - an endeavour so challenging. I slipped and almost fell and still had to balance a heavy bag of gear. The length I went to get the photos and information for AsiaExplorers! I promised myself I shall never return to this cave!
Gua Gunung Runtuh was the site where the Perak Man was discovered. Perak Man is presently the oldest and most complete skeleton to be found not only in Malaysia, but in the whole of Southeast Asia. Radiocarbon dating has placed it as around 10,000-11,000 years old.
Perak Man was found buried with all the funerary artifacts, including pebble tools, food remains, and thousands of riverine shells scattered around his body. Perak Man was buried in a foetal position with both his legs were folded up and the knees bent while the hands were placed over the abdoment and shoulder. The age of Perak Man is believed to be between 40-45 (or perhaps a little older), and is considered elderly for a prehistoric specimen which normally had lifespans of 20-30 years. He was 154 cm high, and walked with a bending position due to some generic malformation that made one of his legs longer than the other. (Indeed, Perak Man is the only prehistoric skeleton in the world found to have this deformity.) Otherwise he was healthy when alive.
For more information on the archaeological finds in Perak, please continue to the webpage on the Lenggong Archaeological Museum.
USM Archaeological students and AE members making their way up the steep slope towards Gua Gunung Runtuh.
View of participants reaching the mouth of Gua Gunung Runtuh.
View within Gua Gunung Runtuh, near to where the Perak Man was found.
Timothy Tye, founder of AsiaExplorers, at the mouth of Gua Gunung Runtuh.
About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at the following email address for your enquiries:
